Top new thriller books in August 2025
Last updated:
August 31, 2025
August 2025 featuring new releases by Sarah Pekkanen, K.L. Slater, Samantha Downing, J.T. Ellison, Stacy Willingham, Sulari Gentill, Katherine Faulkner, Darcy Coates, Leigh Stein, D.L. Maddox and many more.
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The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
Was it...Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?Pathological sibling rivalry?Pure insanity?Whatever the cause—and everyone has a theory—it's the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family... -
![The Lucky Winners by K.L. Slater]()
The Lucky Winners by K.L. Slater
You’ve won the house of your dreams. It’s about to become a nightmare… 'Excellent gripping storyline...keeps you guessing right to the end' 5***** reader reviewA gripping twist-filled thriller from the bestselling author of Message Deleted. For fans of T.M Logan, Gillian McAllister and Lisa Jewell...mystery · fiction · audiobook · psychological · contemporary · suspense · crime · thriller · book · adult -
![Too Old for This by Samantha Downing]()
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
A retired serial killer’s quiet life is upended by an unexpected visitor. To protect her secret, there’s only one option left—what’s another murder? From bestselling author Samantha Downing.Lottie Jones thought her crimes were behind her.Decades earlier, she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town... -
![Last Seen by J.T. Ellison]()
Last Seen by J.T. Ellison
From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a twisted psychological thriller about the bonds of family and the disconnect between memory and the truth.Come here. Come closer.Halley James knows her marriage is over. But she’s not prepared for the rest of her life to fall apart too.No one can hear you. No one can help you.She just lost her job at the forensics lab... -
![Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham]()
Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham
A pulse-pounding new Southern thriller from the author of the runaway bestseller A Flicker in the Dark.Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared on her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed... -
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![Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill]()
Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill
On a train, there are only so many places to hide…Crime fiction author Joe Penvale has won the most brutal battle of his life. Now that he has finished his intense medical treatment, he and his twin sister, Meredith, are boarding the glorious Orient Express in Paris, hoping for some much-needed rest and rejuvenation...europe · western-central-europe · france · urban · mystery · fiction · crime · audiobook · contemporary · murder -
![The Break-In by Katherine Faulkner]()
The Break-In by Katherine Faulkner
After killing an intruder in self-defense, a wealthy London mother must unravel a terrifying mystery filled with twists and turns, from the author of the “deliciously twisted thriller” (People) The Other Mothers. Alice, a professional mother of one, is hosting a playdate with friends at her upscale London home when a disturbed man breaks in...mystery · suspense · crime · fiction · thriller · family · female-mc · psychological · murder · friendship -
![How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates]()
How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates
It was supposed to be the party of the century: miles of idyllic white sand beaches, lush jungle foliage...and a dark legend nobody dreamed might be all too true.When an online influencer and several hundred of his most loyal fans land on Prosperity Island, the plan is simple: five days of elaborate games, drinking, and suntanned fun.A week in paradise should have been a welcome respite...horror · mystery · season-summer · suspense · thriller · psychological · fiction · action-adventure · supernatural · book -
![If You're Seeing This, It's Meant for You by Leigh Stein]()
If You're Seeing This, It's Meant for You by Leigh Stein
Fates collide after a tarot influencer disappears from a decaying Hollywood mansion in this unnerving gothic mystery and audacious social comedy from the acclaimed author of Self Care...fiction · gothic · mystery · horror · contemporary · literary-fiction · audiobook · spooky · thriller · satire -
![Secrets by D.L. Maddox]()
Secrets by D.L. Maddox
Jane Ashcroft walks dogs under a false name, trying to stay quiet, unnoticed, untouchable.But in every new town, something pulls her in. A wealthy family with secrets. A romance that isn’t what it seems. A client who might be a killer...contemporary · drama · fiction · audiobook · suspense · law-enforcement · thriller · psychological · murder · crime -
![Smuggler's Cove by Fern Michaels]()
Smuggler's Cove by Fern Michaels
Book 1 in the brand-new Twin Lights series from the beloved author of The Sisterhood!In a fresh, new series for fans of Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, and Janet Evanovich, #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels introduces siblings Madison and Lincoln Taylor, whose Jersey Shore inheritance plunges them into a world of mystery and mayhem . . -
![One Dark Night by Hannah Richell]()
One Dark Night by Hannah Richell
When a body is found the day after Halloween, a small British community must reckon with its past and the dangers lurking in its present in this spine-tingling novel from “not to be missed” (Hayley Scrivener, author of Dirt Creek) author Hannah Richell...mystery · crime · suspense · psychological · fiction · murder · audiobook · horror · law-enforcement · police-procedural -
![13 Months Haunted by Jimmy Juliano]()
13 Months Haunted by Jimmy Juliano
From Dead Eleven author Jimmy Juliano, a twisty, edge-of-your-seat novel about a unique haunting in the early 2000sPiper Lowery, a public library clerk in charge of liaising with the local middle school, can tell right away there’s something strange about the new girl in eighth grade...horror · fiction · paranormal · audiobook · mystery · spooky · thriller · historical · dark · ghosts -
![A Husband Never Lies: A Psychological Thriller by James Caine]()
A Husband Never Lies: A Psychological Thriller by James Caine
The words on the mysterious letter were simple. Read Me, Now. Josie thought she married the perfect man. But as their love grows cold, she can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something‒or someone.Then the first letter arrives at her door. It demands that she read it immediately. He’s lying to you...psychological · mystery · serial-killers · secrets · romantic-love · suspense · contemporary · realistic · action-adventure · crime -
![The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natera]()
The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natera
The Dominican Republic’s famed Grand Paloma Resort is the paradise of dreams. Here, you can have it all, and the staff is always eager to please—that is, until they are pushed to the brink.Vida is a curandera, a local healer, who has been called to the resort to attend to a crisis. A young guest lies unconscious due to negligent resort childcare...fiction · audiobook · suspense · thriller · season-summer · literary-fiction · poc-mc · psychological · female-mc · family -
![The Red Knot by Monique Asher]()
The Red Knot by Monique Asher
Gripping, atmospheric, and off-putting, The Red Knot is the perfect blend of occult mystery and small-town horror.On a tiny, isolated island off the southern Alaskan coast, three girls have vanished without a trace, and Audra’s close friend—the island’s therapist—has been found murdered...horror · mystery · audiobook · cults · fundamentalism · fiction · spooky · thriller · psychological · paranormal -
![The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine]()
The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine
She has the recipe for the perfect murder...Maria Capello is a celebrity chef like no other. A household name, an inspiration, an icon. Her dozens of cookbooks and weekly television show, broadcast from her beautiful Italian-style kitchen, not to mention her line of bestselling supermarket sauces. And of course there's her history... -
![She Didn't Stand a Chance by Stacie Grey]()
She Didn't Stand a Chance by Stacie Grey
The desert heat can be deadly. But nothing kills like a cold heart.Gertie hasn't seen her siblings since she was a toddler. Now, she's back at the family home she barely remembers, summoned there to witness the reading of her father's will. Shockingly, Gertie stands to inherit a substantial portion of the family business and her father's prized Palm Springs home... -
![A Noble Sin by Andrew Bridgeman]()
A Noble Sin by Andrew Bridgeman
Decorated FBI Agent Emma Noble has made a career of uncovering the truth-but this time, the truth hits too close to home.A string of brutal murders has the FBI scrambling. All evidence points to one suspect: Emma's father, Sam Noble. A veteran CIA operative, Sam has vanished without a trace, leaving Emma torn between duty and loyalty...mystery · crime · suspense · fiction · thriller · kidnapping · murder · female-mc · technothriller · law-enforcement -
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![Open Wide by Jessica Gross]()
Open Wide by Jessica Gross
A provocative novel about intimacy, love, and consent, following an increasingly obsessive radio host who tests boundaries she didn’t know existed Olive is desperate to get close to Theo—really, really close. She’s always struggled to connect with people...contemporary · fiction · literary-fiction · satire · romantic-love · magical-realism · family · dark-humor · horror · humor -
![This Is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller]()
This Is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller
A gripping, emotional, and darkly funny queer horror novel about family trauma and possession, for fans of Rachel Harrison and Catriona Ward.Single gay mom Brigid always thought that cutting ties with her extremist Catholic family was the best thing she could have done for her daughter, Dylan—and for herself...horror · lgbtq · fiction · wlw · contemporary · mystery · gothic · lesbian-mc · audiobook · paranormal -
![High Season by Katie Bishop]()
High Season by Katie Bishop
Never speak of that summer.On a beautiful summer’s night twenty years ago, troubled seventeen-year-old Tamara Drayton was found floating face-down in the pool of her family’s idyllic mansion in the south of France, leaving her twin brother, golden-boy Blake, to pick up the pieces of their shattered family...mystery · fiction · suspense · contemporary · season-summer · crime · thriller · audiobook · family · psychological -
![Hollow Wrath by Jodie King]()
Hollow Wrath by Jodie King
This is a pitch-black circus romance/horror erotica with a morally PITCH-black MMC.This is book two of The Hollow’s Trilogy where we follow the story to Hollow Wrath.Official blurb, cover and release date coming soon. This date is only a set date and not the official release. It will be pushed forward to early 2025... -
![The Boy I Loved by Annika Nofal]()
The Boy I Loved by Annika Nofal
HazelHe was my best friend; the person I found solace in when the world became too much. Over time, our friendship developed into something more--something scary, something intriguing. In due time, he had become the boy I loved. But I didn't know back then that not all love stories had a happy ending...dark · horror · kidnapping · suspense · sexual-assault · cheating · domestic-drama · torture · small-town · killer -
![Slander by Rhiannon Barnsley]()
Slander by Rhiannon Barnsley
'A “he said/she said” courtroom drama with a very contemporary twist; I was gripped!’ Jackie Kabler, bestselling author of The Vanishing of Class 3BA brand new up-all-night thriller to keep you gripped this summer! For fans of Gillian McAllister and Harriet Tyce! What happens when the whole world watches your life come crashing down… When Hollywood actor Ethan Simmons sues his wife Tori for...thriller · legal · political-intrigue · fiction · psychological · crime · politics · family · female-mc · law-enforcement -
![Unmasking Mayhem : A Why Choose Dark Stalker Romance by K.M. Rogness]()
Unmasking Mayhem : A Why Choose Dark Stalker Romance by K.M. Rogness
When The Masks come off, people usually run away. Tell me, little mischief, are you gonna run along with them?In the dark and mysterious world of Masked Mayhem, not everything that glitters is really gold. Those concealed behind masks hide far more than just their identities; beneath it lay their fears, their desires, and the commitment to a life that has become painfully surreal... -
![The Black Lotus by K. Cardella]()
The Black Lotus by K. Cardella
Their deaths will represent the birth of something much more dangerous. Something that shows the beauty in her darkness, her rebirth and her transformation; the black lotusSerenaI'm in love with the man of my dreams, literally. The only red flag I see? His mother wants me dead... -
![Doll Parts by Penny Zang]()
Doll Parts by Penny Zang
The Virgin Suicides meets I Have Some Questions For You in a dual timeline suspense following one woman as she begins to uncover the truth of the death of her estranged best friend and the Sylvia Plath adoring sad girls they attended college with decades ago, all while holding a secret that will slowly unravel her new, suburban dream life. Some stories refuse to stay buried...mystery · dark-academia · fiction · suspense · friendship · coming-of-age · crime · female-mc · psychological · thriller -
![What the Dead Can Do by Peter Rosch]()
What the Dead Can Do by Peter Rosch
A young child’s fate is at stake in a deadly battle between his deceased parents in this gripping and profoundly original psychological thriller, perfect for fans of What Have You Done and Middle of the Night...horror · mystery · paranormal · audiobook · fiction · psychological · suspense · supernatural · spooky · murder -
![Peter Miles Has to Die by Katie Collom]()
Peter Miles Has to Die by Katie Collom
Four friends became three. Only murder will set things right. An emotional "what would you do?" thriller debut about revenge, the bonds of friendship, the reverberations of a small-town crime, the limits of justice.Peter Miles has to die. And Dylan Darcy, Priyanka Shah, and Isabel Guerrero—a bartender, a nurse, and a student—have to be the ones to kill him...suspense · thriller · fiction · young-adult · killer · female-mc · friendship · crime · psychological · murder -
![Lime Juice Money by Jo Morey]()
Lime Juice Money by Jo Morey
With the sultry atmosphere and ratcheting tension of The White Lotus, The Mosquito Coast, and Nine Perfect Strangers, Lime Juice Money is an intoxicating, sensuous debut that follows a woman trapped in an increasingly volatile relationship 5,000 miles from home in a Central American jungle.A woman losing herself. A brutal relationship. And a jungle full of secrets... -
![Stillwater by Tanya Scott]()
Stillwater by Tanya Scott
For fans of Jack Reacher, Tanya Scott's debut thriller introduces readers to a Luke Harris, a man trying to move beyond his criminal past but finds himself forced back into his old life and a deadly battle to survive... -
![Not Who You Think by Arbor Sloane]()
Not Who You Think by Arbor Sloane
The copycat of a killer made famous by a true crime author kidnaps a classmate of the author’s daughter in this twisty thriller, perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins.Amelia Child has devoted her life to researching Gerald Shapiro, the Catfish Killer, a man who pretended to be other people online to gain women’s trust before meeting and killing them... -
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![Heads, My Butt : Naughty Lovers 77 by Kimmy Welsh]()
Heads, My Butt : Naughty Lovers 77 by Kimmy Welsh
What’s the most you ever gained on a coin-flip? Me? I gained a big, thick slab of hotness deep in where it doesn’t belong, courtesy of my friend’s husband. Find out how in this naughty age gap story... -
![Upstanding Young Man by Sharon Doering]()
Upstanding Young Man by Sharon Doering
In a quiet Chicago suburb, a star wrestler goes missing weeks before his high school graduation, shattering his mother’s carefully curated image of domestic bliss.Meg Hart has taken great pains to create her perfect All-American family. It looks effortless, but that’s because she’s been smart about it.However, on a brisk spring morning weeks before his graduation, her son McClane goes missing... -
![The Darkest Deep by Chris Butera]()
The Darkest Deep by Chris Butera
A scavenger trapped in a defunct undersea train tunnel struggles to escape as his air supply—and his sanity—dwindles in this debut psychological thriller.The Transatlantic Train Tunnel, connecting New York and London, was meant to be the next Wonder of the World. But after the disastrous maiden voyage seven years ago, it’s generated nothing but protests, lawsuits, and bankruptcy...horror · fiction · spooky · psychological · mystery · suspense · thriller · technothriller · book · adult
